Rodent Exterminators

All rodents share a few common characteristics including: furry robust bodies, short legs, long tails and a pair of incisor teeth that never stop growing. Here are some more characteristics: 

• Mice are typically 2-4 inches in length, Some rats can measure up to 9 inches long.
• Rats have larger feet, a thick and hairless tail, and small ears.
• Mice, on the other hand, have larger ears and a long thin tail covered with hairs.

Rodents are common year-round, but rodent season for pest control often begins in the fall when the weather begins to cool down. This is because dips in temperature will drive rats and mice indoors for warmth and shelter throughout the winter. With fall marking the beginning of the rodent season, it’s also the perfect time to prevent rats and mice from making themselves at home in your home. 

House mice build nests outside in ground burrows, barns and sheds, and will construct nests indoors in attics, wall voids, storage boxes, and under appliances. Norway rats build burrows outside along foundations and gardens or may be found inside homes, in basements and crawl spaces. Roof rats are good climbers and nest in trees, rooflines, block walls, attics, garages, sheds and in ceilings.

Rodent infestations are one of the most destructive pest problems. Rodents will create nests out of a wide variety of materials. In your walls, they can gnaw through insulation and damage items in your attic. Droppings and urine can be costly to clean up. Lastly, rodents can chew on electrical wires. This can cause a serious fire hazard inside your property.

It can be easy to know if you have a rat or mouse infestation on your hands. Look out for the following signs of rats and mice in your home:

1. Rat droppings are shiny black and up to 3/4″ long. Mice droppings are smaller with pointed ends.
2. Gnaw marks on door corners and walls, or gnawed fruit in trees
3. Inexplicable noises or scratching sounds at night in the walls.
4. Burrows outdoors along foundations, walls or trees is a sign of Norway rat activity.
5. Foul odors from urine or droppings.

Many types of rodents carry a number of potentially harmful diseases. Some of these diseases include hantavirus, leptospirosis, lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCMV), and salmonella. These diseases can be spread to humans directly by handling live or dead rodents, through contact with rodent feces, urine, or saliva, and through rodent bites. Additionally, the droppings and urine of house mice and rats contain allergens that can trigger rhinitis in susceptible individuals.

All-natural repellents for rodents are not reliable. Peppermint, moth balls, and other natural repellents may seem to work, but are not a long-term rodent prevention option. The best way to prevent rodents is to implement rodent exclusion. This means sealing holes around openings, installing mesh screens and chimney screens, and keeping a tidy yard and home. Find out more >>

If you discover rodents, you likely want to get rid of them ASAP. Here’s how:

1. Inspect your property for signs of rodents and then eliminate entry points by rodent-proofing your home.
2. Snap traps, live traps, and glue boards can be an easy and inexpensive way to get rid of rodents.
3. However, if the rodent infestation is large, a rodent exterminator is best to get rid of rodents quickly.